Living Cost Compare
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA versus $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, West Valley City, UT is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 2% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Virginia Beach, VA
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,496
$1,085
+27% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,357
$1,191
+12% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,559
$1,333
+14% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,857
$1,723
+7% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$366,300
$377,300
+3% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$90,685
$88,604
+2% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,430
$55,240
+12% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.4 yr
30.3 yr
+7.1 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
64.9%
71.1%
+6.2 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
40.4%
15.7%
+24.7 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
23.2 min
22.2 min
+1.0 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
96.9
471.8
+387% in West Valley City, UT
Property Crime
1,664.9
1,855.5
+11% in West Valley City, UT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
52.8°F
+7.1°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
44.3 in
16.1 in
+28.2 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in West Valley City, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — HRT vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.2
13.4
+22% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.20
$11.84
+56% in Virginia Beach, VA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in West Valley City, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in West Valley City, UT

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VA / UT)
5.3%
6.1%
+0.8 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.75%
4.50%
+1.3 pp in VA

Virginia Beach vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Virginia Beach or West Valley City?
West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Virginia Beach than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $54,000 a year in Virginia Beach versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Virginia Beach or West Valley City?
Virginia Beach is taxed under Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).